Polaris

Hunter to Hunted

 "You're leaving already?"

The week I had spent lounging around on Mars had cleared out much of my pockets, it was about time I skipped town and found a new bounty. I still hadn't checked on the one Raven wanted me to knock out, I bet by now someone else had picked it up. Or the ISSP had finally gotten off their asses. I handed over the little piece of plastic, nodding.

"Well, Bounty Hunting doesn't exactly work when you stay in one place. Plus, you'll see my ugly mug back here once I've got money for ramen again. I'm not leaving forever, Nikki."

She was really friendly with me, even helping me out when I first showed up. Being kind enough to translate the menu and receipts for me. Without a language barrier, it was simply me getting over the awkwardness of requesting to being read to. Being unable to read whatever language the receipt and menu had been printed in. But, the feat of Human kindness she displayed... When the restaurant was dead, Nikki would teach me little bits of what language they had printed their items in. To the point I could order and handle payment while she was off shift. Handing back my card, and pushing back my to go order, there was a soft smile along with well wishes. Not to mention, "come back to Mars." I had grown rather fond of the red planet, and its people. Which I guess were technically, "Martians." But, Human was Human to me. Seeing as that it was sunset, the sun sinking just below the horizon, I slung my umbrella over my shoulder. Safe from the full power of its deadly rays. But rather now it was nothing more than a minor nuisance. While strolling out of the ramen shop, I found the stringbean against the wall, having himself a cigarette. I had spotted him and his friend a number of times during my stay, even more so near the docks. I would mostly see them around a brown fishing vessel with the word, "BeBop," written in big red letters on its side. Most likely the name of their ship... Rolling my eyes, I put my free hand on my hip.

"We can't keep running into each other like this." I went to hold out my hand for him to shake, introduce myself. But, before I could open my mouth to speak, he cut me off.

"Won't happen for much longer, Ghost."

I could nearly feel the color leave my face. The only ones who knew me as, "Ghost," were the members of my guild. It was a jab at my species, at my situation. Lowering my hand, I took a step back. My gun had been left back on the ship, and all I had was my knife. I wasn't particularly good at hand to hand combat, I relied mostly on my gun, and picking off enemies from afar.

My cockyness would be my undoing. Instead of standing there, jaw slack, I let the little gears in my head turn. How the Hell would this guy who know who the fuck I am!?

"How do you-"

"Do you have any idea how much you're worth?"

Fuck.

So he and his friend had to be Bounty Hunters. I would have never guessed it going off looks alone. I shook my head as I weighed my options. Combat would mean a loss of ramen, and I didn't feel like limping back to the guild because some Cowboy figured my bounty was worth the trouble. If I ran, I could keep my ramen intact, and all I had to do was make it to the Icarus. After that I would be home free.

"Seven. Million," He dropped the cigarette, crushing it under his boot heel, "Which makes a guy wonder. What did you do to get a bounty that high? Or more accurately, who did you kill, assassin?"

Fuck!

Either we have a mole... Or someone sold me out. Without a word, I spun on my heel and booked it. Running as fast as I could, no complex route to the shipyard. Just a straight shot to the Icarus. Clutching the bowl tightly to my chest, I glanced over my shoulder for a moment just to see how far behind me he was. Man was right on my heels, even able to yell into what appeared to be a walkie talkie as he ran. Dodging and weaving in between the crowd, I kept my focus on running. Yes, I could fly fast enough to escape. But here it was far too crowded. Even if I could manage pulling off my jacket and unzipping my shirt, there wouldn't be enough room for wings or time for take off for that matter.